A Story of Care in Chicago

Mrs. Jones had lived in her Highland Park home for forty years. After her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she and her daughter, Sarah, began worrying about safety, confusion, and loneliness. One afternoon, Mrs. Jones wandered into the kitchen in the dark and nearly tripped over a bag near the stove. That was the moment Sarah tearfully told us, “I never realized how much easier life could be once we had help.”

Within days, Livewell Home Care Solutions sent a dementia-trained companion caregiver to Mrs. Jones’s home. They established a simple, reassuring routine. They gently guided her through her mornings, encouraged favorite activities like sorting old photographs, and ensured her environment was free of hazards. In just weeks, Sarah began sleeping through the night again without fear.

Mrs. Jones still calls her home “my safe place.” That’s the kind of outcome we aim for with every family.

The Benefits Families Notice in Dementia Home Care

When a loved one has dementia, non-medical home care offers many benefits beyond simple assistance. Here are the key advantages families often experience:

Familiar Routines

Change is confusing for someone with memory loss. Maintaining consistent daily schedules (meals, bedtime, walks) can reduce anxiety and agitation. A caregiver can gently cue routines and offer structure without being overbearing.

Consistent, Trusting Caregivers

Building trusting relationships matters. When familiar caregivers return on schedule day after day, clients feel safer, less anxious, and more comfortable with assistance. Familiar voices, faces, and mannerisms become reassuring anchors in a changing mental landscape.

Home Safety & Cueing

The home environment is full of potential hazards. Caregivers can remove clutter, install reminders or labels (e.g. on cabinets), ensure good lighting, and provide safe pathways. They can also gently cue or redirect when confusion or wandering begins.

Meaningful Engagement

Boredom and inactivity often worsen agitation. A dementia-trained caregiver encourages participation in simple, enjoyable tasks such as sorting photos, listening to music, folding towels, or light gardening. These small engagements help preserve dignity, stave off decline, and provide comfort.

Assistance with Daily Activities

While non-medical caregivers don’t provide medical care, they can help with activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and safe transfers. They can also help with meal preparation, hydration, and gentle reminders to eat.

Emotional Well-being & Companionship

Isolation is a serious risk. Caregivers offer conversation, reminiscence, reading, or simply being present during quiet moments. Emotional connection often brings relief not only to the person with dementia but also to caregivers and family.

Support & Relief for Family Caregivers

Caring for someone with dementia is emotionally and physically exhausting. Home care provides respite—giving family caregivers time to rest or manage their own responsibilities, confident their loved one is supported.

Services We Provide in Chicago & Suburbs

Here’s how Livewell’s services align to dementia care needs (and each item can be linked to your internal service pages):

• Companion Home Care — social support, conversation, reminders, engagement

• Personal Care Services — assistance with daily living tasks (bathing, grooming, toileting)

• Senior Home Care / Dementia Home Care — specially trained caregivers for cognitive support, safety, cueing

Why Families Choose Livewell

• Personalized, client-centered care plans

• Dementia awareness training for caregivers

• Matching caregivers by personality and interest

• Local knowledge of Chicago and surrounding suburbs

• Warm, trustworthy approach with clear communication

We treat your loved one with dignity, not just “another case.”

Local Resources Families Rely On

Connecting with community resources strengthens support. Here are some relevant ones in the Chicago area:

• Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter — Offers support groups, care navigation, education, 24/7 helpline. Alzheimer’s Association

• Illinois Cognitive Resources Network — Helps connect individuals and families with dementia-friendly services statewide. Illinois Cognitive Resources Network

• City of Chicago — Senior Services / Caregiving Assistance — Supports caregivers with local programs, referrals, and resources. City of Chicago

• Chicago Memory Loss & Dementia Resources (South Side Aging Resource Guide) — Local listings, support groups, helplines. SHARE Network

• Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center — Prominent research and care hub in Chicago. Wikipedia

How Dementia Home Care Keeps Loved Ones Safe at Home

Here are practical ways home care helps prevent crises and supports dignity:

1. Environmental safety checks
   Caregivers audit the home, remove tripping hazards, apply night lighting, secure the kitchen and bathroom, and help install reminders or visual cues.

2. Wandering prevention & monitoring
   Gentle redirection, discreet supervision, and proactive movement patterns reduce the risk of wandering. Caregivers also track patterns and communicate changes to family.

3. Medication reminder & verification
   While not medical professionals, caregivers can remind clients about medications, ensure they are taken as prescribed, observe side effects, and notify family or medical teams if irregularities occur.

4. Meal prep & hydration
   Malnutrition or dehydration can accelerate cognitive decline. Caregivers prepare balanced meals, encourage eating, and monitor weight & fluid intake.

5. Mobility assistance & safe transfers
   Simple support when walking, using mobility aids, and transferring to chairs or beds helps reduce falls. Attention to posture and consistency is key.

6. Crisis prevention & early detection
   Because caregivers spend consistent time with clients, they’re often the first to notice changes—sleep disturbance, aggression, confusion, or physical decline—and alert family early.

7. Companion presence during high-risk times
   Evening hours and nights can be particularly disorienting. Having a caregiver present during these windows can prevent confusion, agitation, or dangerous behavior.

Getting Started: 4 Simple Steps

1. Call Livewell for a free in-home consultation
   We’ll meet with you and your loved one to assess needs, home layout, routines, and preferences.

2. Customized care plan development
   Together we design a schedule and services tailored to cognitive, physical, and emotional needs.

3. Caregiver matching & orientation
   We carefully select and assign a caregiver trained in dementia care, match by personality, and conduct an orientation visit.

4. Ongoing monitoring & communication
   We check in regularly, adjust the plan as needs change, and keep you informed every step of the way.

Talk With Livewell Home Care Solutions Today

If your loved one is experiencing memory loss, confusion, or cognitive decline, dementia home care in Chicago can help them maintain independence, dignity, and comfort in the familiar surroundings they love. Call today for a free in-home consultation (847) 863-2656 and discover how Livewell can help your family stay confident through every stage of dementia.